'Scrap NHS database plan'

AN information watchdog is calling on health bosses across Greater Manchester to abandon plans to store medical records on a national computer database in the wake of three data scandals. Manchester NO2ID group says the data blunders, all revealed in the past month, are proof that local health staff cannot be trusted with confidential information.

AN information watchdog is calling on health bosses across Greater Manchester to abandon plans to store medical records on a national computer database in the wake of three data scandals.

Manchester NO2ID group says the data blunders, all revealed in the past month, are proof that local health staff cannot be trusted with confidential information.

They fear more personal information will be lost if plans to transfer all medical records to a national database, which is being trialled in Bolton, continue.

The M.E.N revealed Stockport Primary Care Trust (PCT) lost personal medical information on 4,000 patients and Manchester Primary Care Trust is investigating after we were handed a data stick containing medical and personal details of patients from Specsavers in Wythenshawe.

The revelations follow a similar security breach at Oldham PCT involving `sensitive' notes on 145 patients.

But NHS bosses say the centralised system would prevent the need for people to transfer data using memory sticks or laptops, reducing the chances of losing sensitive data.

Dave Page, coordinator for Manchester NO2ID, who also oppose identity cards, said: "It is reckless and irresponsible to now put everybody's eggs in one widely-accessible, insecure basket. No technical measures can protect our private information.

"We are calling on primary care trusts across Greater Manchester to shelve plans for the NHS Spine, which will cost an estimated £12bn, which will be diverted from primary care and offers few benefits to healthcare amid great risks of identity fraud.

"Stockport PCT did not want to inform patients that their records had been lost. They claimed it was unlikely the data had fallen into the wrong hands, rather than explaining why it was being carried around."

The NHS Spine system will allow people's personal information to be accessed from anywhere on the internet, including people's home PCs, as well as hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacies. Medical records will be put on the Spine unless people chose to opt out of the system.